Senate Standing Committee On Finance & Revenue Meets

Fakhir Rizvi Published September 22, 2016 | 08:55 PM

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News -22nd Sep,2016) : Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue has showed dissatisfaction on the Tracking and Scanning System of Pakistan Customs to prevent the smuggling.

Meeting of the senate Standing committee held at Customs House Karachi under the Chairmanship of Senator Saleem Mandviwalla to discuss the growing menace of smuggling and mis-declartion. The Committee members were unhappy on the steps made by the Customs authorities to curb the increasing smuggling of goods throughout the country.

They were told by the customs authorities that Scanners installed at Karachi Port are not working effectively as only 20 percents of the consignments are being scanned. Senate Finance Committee has also showed its displeasure on the flawed tracking system of Pakistan Customs which failed to control misdeclarations of the goods.

Customs authorities have been able to only capture 2 to 3 consignments of good on misdeclaration through this poor tracking system. They were of the view that Customs have less Human resource to effectively curb smauggling through land route.

Chief collector appraisement south and chief collector enforcement gives detailed briefings on the steps being taken to strengthen the Port activities by the Customs. Customs authorities also pointed out the flaws in the goods declaration process due to which a large amount of tax money is being wasted.

The Committee visited the Karachi Port to inspect the integrated Transit Trade Management System (ITMS) and scanning machines installed by the Customs Authorities. Chairman Saleem Mandviwalla has recommended that a new border force be created to control the smuggling.

Pakistan Custom should install its scanners at the Karachi Port and the existing scanners should also be used properly, it should also improve its tracking system. Customs should enhance its capacity to prevent the misdeclarations of goods as it is causing huge loss to the national exchequer.

Committee members appreciated the role of IG FC in preventing smuggling. Senator Saud Majeed, Fateh Muhammad Hasni, Mushahidulah Khan and Mohsin Aziz attended the meeting.